Modern Farming

The annual Autumn Steam and Heritage Gala at Sandstone Estates in the Eastern Free State is a moving feast. The Sandstone ethos is to combine Heritage items in an agreeable setting. One of the best ways to do this is to use the consists on the Narrow Gauge railway to showcase other Heritage items and categories, i.e. tractors, military, agricultural implements etc. This year a popular addition is the mixed freight category were two beautifully restored MF 35’s mounted on a flat car ostensibly on their way to a dealer somewhere in the hinterland of South Africa.

A video and photographic DVD produced by Frameline Film & Television covering this event will be released in approximately 6-weeks time. If you wish to place your order you can do so now at a price of R130.00 or £10.50. Please e-mail your details to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to obtain further details.

There has also been an upsurge in demand for The Sandstone Steam Railroad – The First Ten Years hardback. This is available at a cost of R145 or £12.50.

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We have kindly been sent a gallery of images from Fabric Lanoue in France.

Aidan McCarthy, one of our most dedicated photographers who comes to every event at Sandstone, has asked that we share these photographs with our Internet visitors.

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Photos by Hannes Paling

Another stalwart photographer who comes to most of our events is Hannes Paling. Hannes sent us the following photographs under cover of the following note:

"A short word of thanks to every one at Sandstone, including the guests, that made the Kalahari Sunrise event another superb Sandstone experience.

A few pictures attached of what I saw, will send a few more later.

Hannes"

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Photos by Ruediger Fach

One of our overseas visitors, Ruediger Fach from Germany, sent us these excellent photographs.

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Photos by Marc-Henri Andre

Dear Sandstone staff,

I spent a wonderful week at Sandstone , going back in time , with plenty of images in my head from a 100 years ago.

It is the only place in South Africa and in the world , where one can see an Ox-waggon pulled by 10 oxen , passed by a dobble-headed Garratt pulling a goods train , a steam tractor and an old 1950 bakkie.

Thank you for making this possible in 2012.

This kind of event is very important for our children , to show them a part of history , but not in a static museum.

I hope it will still be possible to do in the future.

Thank you for the excellent food during the week , for the nice campsite with clean hot shower and for the friendly atmosphere.